SSS Ranked Reincarnation: Dark Dragon Legacy

Lyrax stood in the grand hall of the Arcane Council. Seven empty seats, seven extinguished soul sparks. The moment each spark died, their final sliver of memory had surged into him, revealing exactly what happened, how they were killed, who killed them.

Silva. And his group.

By protocol, Lyrax’s next action should have been obvious: use the slivers of their souls to reconstruct their bodies using the Council’s stored resources. It would take time, but the seven members would return.

But Lyrax had no intention of reviving them.

This was his moment. His opportunity to finally take control and become what he always believed he was meant to be.

The Arcane Council had always been the strongest power on the planet. Every organization listened to them, followed them. But that power only existed as long as people believed the Council members still lived. And no one knew they were dead. No one except him.

As he stood before the seven glimmering soul seeds, a slow smile crept across his face.

If he played this correctly, he could rise to demigodhood, using every resource, every hidden vault, every secret technique the Council hoarded. He would train, grow, and surpass the very people who once overshadowed him.

Weaklings, all of them. Hoarders of strength who never used their authority properly. They allowed corruption and chaos to spread through the city. They let other factions step out of line. They let the world drift into disorder.

But Lyrax?

Lyrax would correct everything.

He would build a new age, an age ruled by an iron code, where power was respected, order enforced, and all bowed to the Arcane Council.

To him.

The massive doors creaked open.

A tall figure stepped inside, a man armored in polished silver, a single horn jutting from his forehead, golden eyes cold and sharp.

“You called for me, Sir Lyrax,” the man said.

Lyrax turned with his hands clasped behind his back, posture regal, voice smooth.

“Five-Star Platinum Hunter John,” Lyrax greeted. “Good to see you again.”

He stepped forward.

“But pleasantries can wait. There is an emergency, and I require your immediate readiness.”

John straightened.

“Someone attempted to harm the Arcane Council,” Lyrax continued. “Though the Council members have chosen to isolate themselves for… recovery… the assailant is still at large. He is fleeing, likely heading toward Orion.”

John stiffened.

“Orion? You mean… the trials?”

“Yes,” Lyrax answered.

“So it’s a powerful individual,” John said cautiously.

“Indeed,” Lyrax replied. “But only one among his group possesses real power. Did you truly believe the Council would fall so easily to a common nobody? No matter how strong he is, he cannot compare to the original Council members.”

Lyrax leaned in slightly, voice lowering into a persuasive tone.

“All you must do is gather enough men, enough resources, and eliminate him before he reaches Orion. Victory will be yours. I trust you understand.”

John nodded slowly. Lyrax’s confidence, his certainty, worked its intended effect.

“I will take on the task,” John said. “Me and the men I bring will bring down the target. Where is he now? Has he already left?”

“I believe so,” Lyrax answered. “But he cannot be far. Use the interplanetary transit network. Every planet between here and Orion has sensors, gates, and communication logs. Someone will have seen the ship he boarded. I will give you a full briefing, appearance, vessel, companions.”

Lyrax smiled, voice honeyed and commanding.

“The pay for this mission will be substantial. After all, this is a favor you do not just for me, but for the entire Arcane Council.”

He paused.

“So, John… do you accept?”

Lyrax made it sound like a question, but there was no room, no permission, for refusal.

John bowed his head.

“As you wish. It will be done.”

Lyrax’s smile widened.

“I look forward to your good news.”

[… ]

The journey to Orion was simple and straightforward, on paper, at least.

In reality, it was anything but easy. The Lumis Region was infamous for sudden rift tears, spatial fractures that could rip open at any moment, letting rift monsters flood the area. On top of that, pirate factions roamed the routes between planetary outposts, always hungry for ships they could steal and sell off.

This was exactly why Silva needed Aris, someone who understood at least some of the dangers out here.

They sat inside the ship’s lounge as the vessel sped quietly through the vast stretch of space. Aris leaned back in his seat and began explaining.

“The way to Orion is basically one straight line,” he said. “But we’ll have several stops along the way.”

“Why so?” Silva asked.

“To refuel. This isn’t a small trip. The warp engine on this ship is good, but it’s not strong enough to take us straight to Orion in one jump.” Aris paused, thinking. “On a good run, it takes about two weeks. On a bad run… a month.”

“A bad run because of what?” Lily asked.

“Pirates,” Aris replied. “Rifts. Spatial storms. Asteroid belts. A lot of things that can go wrong. Space is unpredictable. Even as demigods, no matter how strong we are, there’s no certainty. Anything can happen, and anyone can get hurt. It’s best to stay cautious.”

He sighed. “And even then, with all the caution in the world, you still can’t avoid everything.”

“So what does it take to be truly free from issues like that?” Silva asked casually.

“If you’ve awakened your first circle,” Aris said, “it means you’ve begun forming your lore as a demigod. With that lore in place, you should be capable of a lot more.

The difference between demigods without a circle and those who have begun forming one… it’s not just a matter of power. It’s understanding. And that understanding alone lets you do things an average demigod wouldn’t even comprehend.”

Silva tilted his head. “So why have you never gotten your circle?”

“To do that,” Aris said, “I’d need a major organization to back me and guide my awakening. Either that… or I’d have to use shortcuts, methods that give quick gratification but cripple your future growth. And neither option was on the table for me. I’ve been on the run most of my life. Keeping my head low was all I could do.”

Silva studied him for a moment. Then a small smile formed on his lips.

“Then I just had a bright idea,” Silva said. “Why not take part in the trials on Orion? Now that you’re free of your past problems.”

Aris let out a short chuckle. “Not everyone can enter the trials,” he said. “You might be special enough to get in… but someone like me? I’m just an average demigod. And despite how rare demigods are, there are still thousands across the galaxies. And demigods consume absurd amounts of resources to grow. Organizations don’t just accept anyone they find.”

He shrugged.

“It’s not as simple as walking in and signing up.”